The word’s literal translation is “little black man.” But generally, negrito is not considered a racial slur in Latin America,Sawyer said. In fact, it frequently has a positive meaning.“It’s often a term of endearment,” he said.But what the word means also depends on where — and how — it’s said.“In Puerto Rico, it has one meaning. In Cuba it has a slightly different connotation and in the Dominican Republic it has a slightly different connotation,” said Jorge Chinea, director of the Center for Chicano-Boricua Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit.

LOL -- in order to determine if what he said was permissible or not, we have to agonize and interpret and really think about it. If Mick Jagger sings about a "negrita" -- that's o.k. because we know he meant it positively, and when this other guy uses "negrito" - well, we know he was being racist...even though he denies saying it and nobody accept the alleged "victim" says they heard it....

Here is a good solution: These are grown men. Evra should deal with Suarez directly and they should work it out. If a referee hears one of them getting out of hand on the field, then boot that person from the game. Done.

Patrice Evra shows his true colours in a public arena by kicking a supporter in the head before a match. An inevitable ban that will be measured in months rather than matches, and hopefully a criminal conviction too.